On Tuesday, the Council of Ministers approved the extension of the temporary layoffs programs (ERTE) until January 31, 2021. This came in the wake of the pre-agreement reached with all social agents, unions and employers. Exemptions for resurgence ERTE will be up to 100% and for ERTE of certain sectors and companies will be between 75% and 85%.
Last week the Central Bank of Turkey raised its interest rate to 10.25% (compared to 8.25% previously). The Turkish lira recovered by 1% briefly against the euro and the dollar, but soon retook its downward trend. However, the move did give an unexpected boost to BBVA. Through its subsidiary Garanti, Turkey has become the Spanish bank’s third largest market by volume. BBVA’s shares shot up 5.3% (2,284 euros). A few days earlier, BBVA shares had recorded their minimum annual level of 2.16 euros
In the coming months, the uneven evolution of the different markets as they exit the crisis will provide an opportunity for those companies capable of grabbing the opportunities of the recovery in the global market. However, 89% of Spanish companies only operate in the domestic market, with no prospects outside our borders. This data has emerged from nearly 250,000 interviews conducted by Iberinform with the management teams of Spanish firms.
The coronavirus pandemic forced a high percentage of Spaniards to telework. Despite this figures has been declining as the social distancing measures have been lifted, many firms are already considering the option of offering their employees a more flexible way of working, combining days working face-to-face in the office with working remotely. Iin this article experts at CaixaBank Research will analyse its implications for urban mobility and, from a longer-term perspective, for the residential real estate market.
Spanish banks have made drastic efforts since the financial crisis to improve efficiency. They were among the most active in Europe to adjust their branch networks. But while the number of branches has reduced in many countries, the workforce has not always followed the same pace of adjustment. For analysts at Scope Ratings, there is still room for efficiency gains, particularly as digitisation continues. “Transition in Spain can only accelerate, leaving room for consolidation”, they say.
Spain does not want to be left behind in the area of renewable hydrogen, currently the most efficient technological solution for storing and transporting energy. The government has already launched a consultation of its ‘Hydrogen Roadmap’. The draft includes 57 measures to prepare the regulatory framework and sets targets for 2030 such as reaching an installed capacity of 4 GW, which represents 10% of the target set by the European Commission for the whole of the EU.
Funcas | The Labour Force Survey shows the extraordinary decline of agricultural occupation in recent decades. In 1976, those employed in this sector (2.6 million people) accounted for over a fifth of total employment; in 1991 they represented less than a tenth (1.3 million) and already in 2007 agricultural employment had fallen below a twenty-fifth of total employment (801,000). Since then, this proportion has stabilized around 4% of the total occupation (734,000 people in jobs in 2019).
On Monday, PharmaMar joined the Ibex 35, the main Spanish stock market index. It will will be composed of 34 stocks until October 19th, following the exclusion of MásMóvil after Lorca Telecom Bidco’s takeover bid. The Ibex 35’s Technical Advisory Committee unexpectedly announced on 10 September that PharmaMar would replace Ence in that index. Since then, the company’s share price has risen by more than 17% to 103.8 euros at last Friday’s close, recovering its July levels.
Spanish banks recorded aggregate attributed losses of 11.531 billion euros in the first half of 2020. This came in the wake of an effort in terms of provisions and write-offs to the tune of 26.518 million euros. Preparation for the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic was behind this effort, according to the Spanish Banking Association (AEB).
Banco Santander’s board has agreed to hold the next general shareholder meeting on October 26-27. In line with what was announced in July, there will be a request to approve a bonus capital increase to distribute new shares equivalent to 0.10 euros per share as a complementary dividend for 2019. It would be paid this year and bring the total remuneration for 2019 to 0.20 euros per share, equivalent to a 40% payout.